Sea lions spotted swimming around Point Arkwright

Sea lions spotted swimming around Point Arkwright

FOUR sea lions have been spotted relaxing on the rocks at Point Arkwright.

Coolum resident Allan Bell managed to snap a photo of the furry sea creatures on Saturday morning when he was out on his walk.

"I took a very quick photo, I didn't want to disturb them," he said.

Mr Bell said he often walked past the rocks where he spotted them but had never seen any sea lions there before.

"It must be a rare occurrence," he said.

University of the Sunshine Coast animal ecology lecturer Dr Ben Dilby said Mr Bell was right that his sea lion spotting was quite out of the ordinary.

Dr Dilby said there were plenty of examples of sea lions appearing in Moreton Bay but he had never heard of one reaching as far north as Point Arkwright.

"I've never seen them in that particular spot," he said.

"Sometimes they come up with the cooler weather but that's not the case given it's been quite warm.

"It's definitely possible that the one's coming up here could be deemed as a little bit lost but we don't often have to intervene."

Mr Dilby said it was best if residents kept their distance from the animals but they shouldn't be alarmed if the animals do try and interact.

"There are examples from Moreton Bay where the sea lions have been particularly playful and have pulled themselves on to boats but otherwise they should just stay away from them and let them do their natural thing."

He said if the sea lions begun to look visibly sick or injured then residents should call the RSPCA or Sea Life Mooloolaba.